Transit chief taking school-construction reins

State Transportation Commissioner Kris Kolluri was approved
yesterday to be head of New Jersey's $12.5 billion
school construction program.

Kolluri, who has been in charge of the state's $5.6
billion-a-year transportation programs since March 2006, is
scheduled to start as chief executive officer of the Schools
Development Authority on Dec. 1.

His appointment to the $195,000-a-year schools post won
unanimous approval from the authority's board of
directors yesterday.

"I'm looking forward to this challenge,"
said Kolluri. "Infrastructure is going to be a focus
under President Obama. From that perspective, I am right in
the center."

Kolluri will be taking over a program that has been
retooled and replenished with $3.9 billion in new funding
after a series of scandals and millions of dollars in waste
nearly derailed it three years ago.

He is taking the reins as Gov. Jon Corzine has directed
the agency to speed up construction of billions of dollars
in pending school projects to help the state buck the global
recession.

"That's frankly one of my biggest
focuses," he said. "To expedite the construction
projects without losing track of the accountability."

Kolluri is scheduled to be replaced at the DOT by his top
deputy, Stephen Dilts.

Dilts, who has overseen the DOT's day-to-day
operations as deputy commissioner, worked at the New Jersey
Turnpike Authority from 2002 to 2006.

"I am truly honored by Governor Corzine's
confidence in selecting me to oversee the development and
operation of New Jersey's transportation network,"
Dilts said. "We are entering a critical and exciting
time in the state's infrastructure development, and I
look forward to the challenge."

At the Schools Development Authority, Kolluri will
replace Scott Weiner, a former state DEP commissioner who is
stepping down after more than two years overseeing the
redesign of the construction program.

Former governor Christie Whitman launched the school building program in 2000, in the wake of a state Supreme Court order that requires the state to rebuild or replace hundreds of decrepit, overcrowded public schools in 31 of New Jersey's neediest communities....